Coffee Coffee Coffee

Hello World,
   This past week I visited Jacksonville to see Ian.  Little did I know that we would end up at the cutest, tastiest coffee shop I have ever been to.  Its name is The Soap Co. Coffee Shop, and I know once I get back to school I will be spending a lot of my time there.  It not only sells coffee and pasties/other foods, but it also sells handmade gifts that were either made by people who work there or from people around town.  It is a great spot to study as well.  I know I will be dragging Shannon and Taylor there the first Sunday morning of the fall semester; they will thank me later! 
   I had a great iced vanilla coffee that I finished quickly.  This morning I was actually craving it.  I had not had any coffee until this afternoon, and the only reason I had any at all was to try to help my headache... and it helped... I kind of think I am starting to rely on coffee to help me with my day.  I need to start watching it so I do not end up depending on it to function.  As much as I loveeeeee coffee, I do not think I need to have to drink it every day.  Maybe being away and working will help me.
   Speaking of being away, the next time I blog I will be in Black Mountains, NC.  My time has finally come! Although I have not yet started packing,(oops) I have done some shopping with Grandma Mary to get myself ready for my time at Blue Ridge.  I have loved spending time with her, and I will miss her this summer.  With that being said, I will talk to you all in North Carolina!
-PK
  
       

Spending Time Outside

Hello World,
  Happy Sunday! Tomorrow starts another week and that means I am less than two weeks from North Carolina.  I am so excited to begin my own adventure at Blue Ridge.
   Yesterday, Ian and I went hiking at Starved Rock.  It was a blast!  I loved hiking and just enjoying the wonderful view from the top.  Ian could not stop telling me what a great time he had.  There were a lot of people, but the higher we got the less people there were.  I cannot wait to go hiking again.  Hopefully being in the Black Mountains will give me more opportunities to do so this summer. 

   I am already missing my friends from school.  It's only been a couple weeks.  They are just so much fun to be around and I cannot wait until I get to see them again.  I was actually talking to my friend Josh today.  He lives in Miami, FL and I am really glad we have become friends through IC.  He was telling me how much he enjoys reading my blogs.  He thinks they are interesting.  It means a lot to me to hear that.  It still surprises me when I have someone tell me they actually keep up and enjoy my blog.  It makes me smile and I think it is just so cool.  I started doing this for myself and just any family that wanted to keep up with me.  I like reading their blogs so I thought I would start my own.  It is a great way for me to end/start my week.  However, the more I hear my friends say they read it, the more I realize I have a bigger audience then I thought. 
   I ended my Sunday with my parents, the Sgambelluri's, and Fr. Marty.  We sat out on their porch, grilled, and just had a great evening.  It put me in a very good mood.  I really do like spending time with all of them.  It has set me up for a good week.  I am hoping to explore downtown Springfield with JT sometime this week; just something fun to do.  Tomorrow I plan on finally giving my car a good clean.  She is so dirty and it will be a great day to do it. 
-PK   

It's Summmmer

Hello World,
   So I am finally home from school.   I have been home for about two weeks, and it has been so nice not having to worry about school or homework.  I am still waiting for grades to come out but I really do not think I have anything to worry about.  It was a good semester/year and I was sad to see it end.  I will begin the back half of undergrad in the fall.  This does not seem possible, yet here I am...
   About three days after I came home, the girls in my society went on our annual float trip: Spring Weekend.  It is a great time to bond and really just spend time with my sisters in a different environment.  I will miss all my sisters dearly this summer, especially with me being in North Carolina in about two weeks! It has all finally hit me that I will be gone for the summer.  So far I have nothing but excitement for this adventure.  Also over the summer I will need to keep my mind turning about our Rush season.  It will begin around the last week of August and I need to make sure I do not leave anything out in my planning.  I want to make sure that not only am I ready but my sisters are ready to pull in new members!
   JT is in this final week of school which means I will have about a week of just him and me.  I have some fun plans and I cannot wait unitl his finals are finished.  He has taught himself how to play the guitar and I loveddddd coming home and having him play me a song.  He has a ways to go but he seems to really love it and he is always practicing. 
   Alright, well until I back,
-PK

Trying to Keep Up

Hello World,
   Once again, school has been keeping me busy.  I only have two weeks until I am finished with my second year.  Two weeks ago we held our second annual Greek Week here at IC.  While we did not win the overall week, my sisters and I had a blast participation and winning individual events!  Sarah Knapp, leader of Greek life, always makes sure we are having the great time.

   Last Sunday, we had our Phip Family Day.  My mom and dad came over to help celebrate the day.  JT was at home sick, unfortunately.  We put on a production for them and performed our Greek Sing for them.  We also had a nice lunch and a good speaker.  It was really great showing them my society again.  They know it means a lot to me. 
   Phips have been busy with service raising over $1,100 for both Big Brothers Big Sisters and Relay for Life.  I am very proud we were able to do this for them. 
   I work a lot this week, have presentations, and papers due, and I am going to see Scotty McCreery this Friday! I am trying to make sure that I am in a good place so I can enjoy my night.  It was a birthday present.  Speaking of which, my birthday is in twelve days.  In twelve days I will no longer be a teenager...  I am trying to remain calm. 
   Until next time,
-PK   

First Week of April

Hello World,
   This past week has been very stressful and busy.  From work, to tests and homework, to service events, I have not had much time to myself.  I had my final Biology test of the semester, and I think I did pretty well.  Also this week Sigma Phi Epsilon Literary Society raised over $1,100 for Big Brothers Big Sister for their Bowl for Kids Sake charity event! I am so proud of my sisters.  Unfortunately, I could not be there to bowl because of work.  I just keep telling myself I'll have a good pay check. 
   Saturday was very busy.  I had an event that morning for Rush.  I was simply just getting our name and information out to kids who are looking into coming to IC in the fall.  However, later that day, Sigma Phi Epsilon held our second annual Kentucky Derby.  It was a little cold out but standing in the sun was nice.  I loved seeing everyone dressed up and having a good time.  We held our event with our brothers, the men of Sigma Pi.  I love getting together with them. 
   Anyway, today ended with work, a meeting, and me studying for my functions test in the morning.  Wish me luck on that one...
-PK

Life is Peachy Keen

Hello World!
   Well in case you haven't noticed, the name of my blog has changed.  I have decided to change it because I felt it was cute, different, and related to me in a better way.  I wanted something more unique and something that stood out and could make people smile.  So here is my attempt.
   I have been MIA for the past couple of weeks.  With spring break and school, it has been enough to keep me away from my blog.  I am hoping that I will be able to better organized my time to allow myself to continue blogging at least once a week.
   About two weeks ago IC had our spring break.  I was very excited for this spring break because for the first time, I was actually going somewhere for spring break! A group of my sisters and I went to South Padre Island in Texas.  We drove down and back (a grand total of 40 hours in the car), and we spent four days on the island.  It was absolutely wonderful! A group of six of us went, and we had the time of our lives.  We were on the beach every day, meet new friends and met up with some form school, went to pool parties, ate way to much food, and made memories to last a life time.  I loved being at the beach, but my favorite part was honestly just bonding with my sisters for a week.  I can honestly say that I have never laughed so much in my life.  Most of us ended up leaving the island without a voice and came home sick, but we wouldn't trade it for anything.  I am so grateful that I was able to be apart of this adventure with such great friends.
   Being back at school has been fine.  A lot has happened at IC, some good some bad, but I have been able to keep up without a problem.  I am hoping to declare a minor in History before the end of the semester, witch is only about 4-5 weeks away... I never knew time could fly by so fast.  Soon I will be in the back half of my undergrad and I am low key freaking out.  I am ready for what life has to offer me, but I wish it would slow down just a little bit.  My classes have been going well, and I still get excited for what they are able to teach me.  They continue to hold my interest. 
   I am home for a couple of days for Easter break.  It's really nice being home for Holy Week.  Mom and dad love it, too.  Tomorrow night, at the Easter Vigil, my friend Rachel will be coming into the Catholic Church.  It is a very exciting time for not only her but my family as well.  We have been helping her on her journey, since my mom is her sponsor, and we are all so excited to welcome her into the church.  She is so ready and passionate about this process and her decision to join.  WELCOME RACHEL!
   Also, tonight at dinner, my grandma Mary was able to tell me all about her recent trip to Paris! I am so jealous and amazed that she got to go.  She went with my cousin Katie and her family and I still hope that one day that will be me taking selfies next to the Eiffel Tower.  But until then, I will continue having fun with my sisters, focusing my time on classes, and preparing myself for Blue Ridge.
-PK     
 

Spending Summer 2016 in the Mountians

   Growing up, my dad, aunts, and a couple cousins would tell me of their summers at YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountains, NC.  They would spend their summers in college working at Blue Ridge, and they still say to this day that it was the best times of their lives.  Blue Ridge has a summer program aimed at college students, and for the last couple years I have been thinking about how I would love to experience this for myself.  Well my time has come! This past December I applied for a position at Blue Ridge.  I was lucky enough that they contacted me and asked to set up a phone interview.  We talked about why I wanted the job and how my family had influenced me and told me how wonderful it was.  The man who interviewed me was very excited to hear how I had other family members work there and that I had actually been to Blue Ridge.  After a long interview, I was offered a job working for Conference Services.  Needless to say, I was over the moon excited to be given this opportunity.  I have wanted to apply for such a long time now, and not only was I able to apply but I was offered a job.
   My family is so excited and supportive, which is all I could ever ask for.  I know being far away from them will be a new struggle for all of us, but I am positive that the excitement and joy that will come from this experience will help us get through.  For you see, this job will require me to live in North Carolina for two months this summer.  I will only be coming home for about three or four days for my dad's ordination to become a Deacon.  Yes, I am nervous to not be near family for the first time, but the excitement is so overpowering that I am not yet worried about being homesick.  I will be living in the mountains, meeting kids my age from all over the country and the world (along with others), and gaining new work experiences. 
   This week it has all become so real for me.  I received an email finalizing the details about my travel and work being done when I am out there.  I will leave a link to their website to help those who want to, to look into where I will be this summer.  My goal is to go into this with an open mind and come out of it with great experiences, friends, and memories.  I am so excited to be spending my summer in the mountains.    

<https://www.blueridgeassembly.org/>